In the second reading, the State Duma moved to ban the transfer of personal data to foreign reporters when citizens access public services or perform government functions. This development was reported by TASS and highlights a tightening of rules around data sharing across borders within official duties. The amendment to the law On information, information technologies and information protection was authored by Alexander Khinshtein, who chairs the State Duma IT committee, and his deputy Anton Gorelkin. The proposed change is framed as a measure to protect the personal information of Russian residents during cross-border communications, especially in contexts tied to state services and government operations. As part of the project, the transfer of payment documents, data on money transfers, and other sensitive personal data of Russian citizens through foreign messaging platforms would be prohibited. Roskomnadzor has committed to creating a precise list of messaging services that fall under this restriction and to publishing it on its official website for public reference and compliance. This legislative initiative appears alongside other broad efforts to regulate digital information flows and protect residents from exposure to international channels that may not conform to domestic data protection standards. In a related development, the third reading of a measure approved by the prior sessions of the State Duma imposes a requirement for district officials to report incidents of incitement to corruption within five days. The explanatory note accompanying this document explains that the aim is to strengthen anti corruption legislation by improving mechanisms to identify, assess, and minimize corruption risks across local governance structures. The broader intent is to create a clearer, timely process for reporting illicit behavior, support transparency, and reduce opportunities for abuse in public administration, while also reinforcing accountability among district officials and agencies. Observers note that these two legislative threads—data protection and anti corruption—reflect a consistent push toward tighter control of information and faster response to misconduct within the federal and local government landscape. The measures together signal a strategic emphasis on safeguarding citizens’ personal data in official interactions and enhancing the integrity framework for public sector operations, with compliance expectations clearly outlined for relevant authorities and service providers. [Source attribution: reporting from TASS and official legislative summaries.]
